Aug 4 2012:
I think you hit the nail on the head. Countries are by their behaviour, criminal states, but most of the people in the country (provided they are not in the government or other entitled ruling party) are pretty nice.
I live in Canada and realize that my country is next to a very large country that can't be described any other way except bat shit crazy. But most Americans are just like everyone else.

Aug 4 2012:
Do you think, Gordon, that most people who work in the government in your province in Canada are not kind? Or do you think they just aren't as kind as the people who work for big private companies?

Aug 4 2012:
You can work for government but I perfer not to associate with those who are government. There are noteable exceptions. I don't like bankers either but I have nothing against tellers (for example)

Aug 4 2012:
Thanks Gordon......
Well I thought it's my own feeling about Govt people which is specific to me .........
Thought also corrupt & master like attitude of Govt. People to common, is a salient feature of 3rd world countries like mine......

Aug 4 2012:
I do most of the time but I am not sure of the origin of a lot of the often used Canadian idiom. Some are imported and some things we just made up.
Herman Nelson's for example are the huge propane driven heaters that we use to warm up planes and engine components when you want to start a jet for example and is -45 C.
Dumb as a sack full of hammes is another.

Aug 10 2012:
Thinking about it - its an excellent point. Countries by definition are to protect their boundary, resources etc and tend to become unkind. Every where you have neighbouring countries squabbling over small pieces or land etc. think humanity has a long way to go.....

Aug 4 2012:
I don't know which country specifically, but what would be the defining qualities of the kindest country? I think obviously showing kindness in everyday situations, and how well the golden rule is followed? (Don't do to others what you would not want done to you....) Also maybe allowing others to hold different opinions, and being generous to one another?

Aug 10 2012:
I have seen this here in UK as well. London seems to be much less kinder than the south east where I live. Maybe its just people are too busy minding their own business and have little time to show kind gestures. But as some one said - Good habits are made up petty sacrifices.

I have traveled extensively, and find that people are people wherever I go....more the same than different. I cannot think of a country that is more....or less....friendly. People are WONDERFUL everywhere......in my humble experience. Do you suppose it has anything to do with our own projection? What we bring to an interaction is often reflected back to us:>)

Aug 11 2012:
Dear Siddharth,
Perhaps I have been fortunate enough to be in all the "right" places, at all the "right" times, to meet all the "right" people!!! I'm kidding:>)

I honestly think/feel that what goes around, comes around, and often, what we give out to people, will come back to us. I bring kindness, respect, joy and curiosity wherever I go, to the best of my ability, and that is usually what I get from people around our world.

I have witnessed people being treated with disrespect BECAUSE that is what s/he was projecting out from his/herself. I have observed this SO many times that there is no question in my mind and heart about this.

Perhaps one of my life philosophies impacts my perception as well..."what we focus on expands". I honestly cannot remember any unkind situation in any country I have visited. If there ever WAS an unkind or disrespectful situation, I probably don't remember because the kindness, respect and connections I've experienced throughout our world have been so wonderfully overwhelming, and that is what I focus on:>)

Aug 4 2012:
There are kind and loving people in every country. If we must compare, there are probably more kind and loving people in countries that have more people than in countries that have fewer people.

Aug 5 2012:
In my opinion, it's Brazil of course. People are very passionate and love to talking with strangers . The hospitality is our best service here. I gowed up in Brazil's streets and I've seen how much people are kind and generous.

Aug 4 2012:
HI all,
I think the proverb "Don't judge the book by the cover" applies for everything and the same for choosing which country is the kindest. We all know that people behave different depending on their culture, geographic situation and their country.
For example, depending on the culture, one may find one country as bad, while another person with a different culture may find the same country as the kindest. So the question which country is the kindest in the world? I belive it depends on people and how they see/accept that country.

Aug 4 2012:
I'm not sure what country is the kindest but I do know it would be somewhat primitive by definition. I'm taking kind to mean to other people as well as the environment. Hunter-gatherers, nomadic peoples, descendants of ancient civlizations like Eskimos... A country with a population like this would seem to be the answer.

Aug 10 2012:
Donations i think may not be that important, for example - if you waste lot of food and then result in poor people having to pay more for the food, then your donation is simply relieving the pain that has been inflicted due to the act of recklessness of wasting food in the first place. But contribution is much more profound... i think... some guys actually go and do stuff on the ground to make an impact or they change their behaviour in view of how it affects people around them. So that is far better contribution.